Work Those Heels!

When you want to party the night away but your feet are killing you, what do you do? You can always kick off the offending heels, but it is such a shame to have to abandon those gorgeous shoes you paid a small fortune for, and they look so sexy!

Lets look at the stiletto problem sensibly (well, at least for now). The answer is a special high-heel workout so you can party as comfortably as possible. This workout was developed to celebrate the creation of the most desirable high heels in the UK, the Gina Cinderella Slipper. The stunning, one-of-a-kind shoe was created especially by Gina Couture to mark the release of Cinderella for the first time on Disney DVD and was auctioned at a star-studded celebrity event in aid of the Make a Wish Foundation.

Dance the night away The troubles with wearing high heels are well documented, yet, given their slimming effect on legs and ankles, many of us are addicted to them despite the discomfort. This workout is designed to help you wear heels for longer and lessens your chance of injury. The regime strengthens calves and ankles, minimizes the risk of twisted ankles, sore knees and aching arches, and improves the overall tone and appearance of your legs.

It is undoubtedly true that high heels cause of various foot problems, but even ergonomically correct sports shoes don’t make the muscles in the feet work. All shoes cut off our circulation and because our feet are ‘locked up’ all day, the muscles never get to stretch. As the years go by, our feet become narrower, bones start to calcify and the muscles become tighter.

Most of us also walk very badly, with a major cause of bunions being big toes hitting the ground hard. The following exercises help spread the toes, distribute body weight more evenly throughout the foot and improve posture. In turn, this can help the hips and back stay healthy.

This easy workout can improve the health of women’s feet considerably. If you keep the entire foot in shape, you can wear stilettos every night.

When it comes to strengthening and toning the legs, squats and lunges are key. But it’s crucial to perform these correctly to avoid stress to the knees. Calf raises, which slim the ankles, define the lower leg and stretch out the Achilles tendons, are also important. These can be performed at home. Simply lift the heels so that you’re standing on tiptoe and then lower 20 times. To increase the intensity, place the front third of the foot on a telephone directory and raise the heels up and down. If you want to make it really challenging, you can perform calf raises on one leg.

Stiletto-lovers might also be encouraged to know that wearing high heels is, in itself, a workout, since when you’re in heels you are doing what amounts to permanent calf raises, thereby improving muscle definition. However, very high heels can shorten the tendons and you shouldn’t wear them all the time.

Look after your feet and they will look after you!

Always stand with your feet parallel and with equal weight on both sides. If you have to stand for a long time, shift your weight to the outside edge of your feet, as this helps build the arches and helps with knee and lower-back problems. When you buy new shoes, make sure there is plenty of room inside for your toes to move.

When wearing high heels, shift your weight to the outside edge so you are not placing weight on the big toe. Try rolling your feet over a tennis ball while sitting at your desk at work to improve circulation. Wear all shoes, especially heels, in moderation.